Carton length controlled tape server



March 24, 1964 c. D. KEELY ETAL 3,126,299

CARTON LENGTH CONTROLLED TAPE SERVER Filed Dec. 6, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1IN VEN TORS /FFOE 2. #[JA Y 34,670,16 J. 34 545) March 24, 1964 c. D.KEELY ETAL 3,126,299

CARTON LENGTH CONTROLLED TAPE SERVER Filed Dec. 6, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2FIG. 2

IN V EN TORS (Z/FFO/PD .2 A'E Y Ran Mow .77 84/54 er array/125:6

March 24,1964

C. D. KEELY ETAL CARTON LENGTH'CONTROLLED TAPE SERVER Filed Dec. 6, 19603 SheetsSheet 3 United States Patent CARTON LENGTH CONTROLLED TAPESERVER Clifford D. Keely, West Englewood, N.J., and Raymond J. Baisley,Hempstead, N.Y., assignors to General Corrugated Machinery Company,Inc., Palisades Park,

N .J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 74,128 6Claims. (Cl. 1184) This invention relates to tape feeding and cuttingmechanism adapted for use in connection with the tape sealing ofcartons. In tape serving mechanism for use with cartons, it isfrequently important that a length of tape which exceeds the length ofthe chosen carton by a predetermined amount, be fed out, moistened,severed and presented in a convenient location for seizure, and formanual application by the operator to the carton. This is the case, forexample, when the side flaps at the top of a carton are to be unitedalong a center seam. The severed tape is then manually applied along acenter seam with its ends drawn tautly around the end edges of thecarton and adhered to the associated terminal faces.

Many expedients have been adopted for mechanically feeding outappropriate, measured lengths of tape, but these have generally dependedupon a knowledge or an estimate of the length of the carton in linearunits and the pressing of an appropriately marked button or lever. Thistype of operation can result in error through unintentional pushing ofthe wrong button or lever. It can result in error from miscalculation.It can result in error from malfunctioning of the mechanism. It canresult in waste of tape because only selected lengths are available.

With some forms of mechanism, when the cartons are known to be of asingle definite, uniform length, a feed limiting stop can be setautomatically to produce uniform tape lengths. Such an arrangement,however, is wholly unsuitable in the familiar situation of mixedcartons, i.e., in which cartons of mixed sizes or continually varyinglengths are required to be dealt with.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a simple,inexpensive mechanism in which tape lengths fed, moistened and cut arecaused to exceed the lengths of the cartons to which they are to beapplied by a predetermined, mechanically controlled amount, by actuallyusing the length of the respective cartons, variably to control thelengths of tape fed. To this end a tape feed controller of predeterminedlength or span and a carton are relatively moved to cause a traversal ofthe carton length by the controller, the construction and arrangementbeing such that the tape feeding is effected at the rate of suchtraversal, starting as the first end of a carton meets. The first end ofthe feed controller and terminating, with a concomitant severance of thetape, as the second end of the carton leaves engagement with the secondend of the controller.

In a preferred form of the invention, and as illustrated herein, thetape feed controller remains stationary and the carton is moved relativeto it, being brought automatically to rest in a convenient tapingposition concurrently with the termination of tape feeding and theseverance of the tape. The initiation of carton feeding is effected bythe operator through the actuation of a suitable manual or footactuator, such as a treadle, and the feeding of the tape isautomatically initiated by the first engagement of the traveling cartonwith the tape feeding controller, and automatically terminated when thecarton leaves engagement with the tape feeding controller.

At the conclusion of the tape and carton feeding operation, the cartonstands at rest on the idle conveyor in Hce the taping position. It isthen fed away after taping, as an incident of the feeding in of the nextcarton. If no further carton is immediately available, however, thetreadle may nevertheless be operated to set the conveyor into motion. Inthis situation, the tape feeding controller Will not be tripped andthere will be no feeding of tape. The conveyor will continue to rununtil it is arrested by operation of a manual stop member which isprovided for the purpose.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing forming part of this specification,

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of a practical and advantageousillustrative form of portable tape serving unit;

FIGURE 2 is a view in end elevation of the mechanism of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale than FIGURES l and 2showing particularly details of the tape moistening and feedingmechanism;

FIGURE 4- is a diagrammatic view illustrating chiefly the electricalcircuits of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view showing chiefly the electrical circuitsof a modified embodiment.

In the illustrative embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 4, a novel carton feedingand tape serving unit 10 is shown associated with gravity supply anddischarge conveyors '12 and 14. The supply conveyor 12 is suitablysloped yieldingly to advance the cartons 11, not sluggishly, but moreslowly than they are advanced in the unit. 10. Ordinarily anaccumulation of cartons waiting to be taped will stand in abuttingrelation on the conveyor 12 with the leading carton pressing lightlyagainst the admission gate 73 of the unit it).

The unit It) includes a table frame 16 which is equipped with legs 18having rollers 19. The unit 10 is completely self-contained, save forthe necessity of plugging a leadin conductor (not shown) into a currentsupply socket. It may be rolled out of place when it requires servicingor to another line when required. It can also be replaced temporarily orpermanently with a like unit without any important loss of operatingtime and without causing any important accumulation of untaped cartons.

The table 16 rotatably supports end rollers 20 and 21, upon which twospaced parallel conveyor belts 22 run side by side, the roller 2i) beingthe driving roller for the belts. The table 16 also rotatably supports amultiplicity of intermediate idler rollers 24, forming a roller table,upon which the active runs of the belts 22 are supported. A supplementalframe 26, suspended from the table, supports a drive motor 28 andassociated gearing. The motor 28 is connected through suitable gearing,including gearing 34), to drive a cross-shaft 32. The shaft 32 isconnected through chain gearing 34 to drive the conveyor driving roller20.

The shaft 32 is also connected through chain gearing 36 (chain 49) todrive a shaft 38, FIG. 3. The shaft 38, through chain gearing 42 drivesa tape web feeding roller 44 and a tape moistening roller 46 at equalperipheral speeds. The tape feeding, moistening and cutting unit 48 issupported in its entirety from the table 16 through upstanding frame 50.The tape feeding, moistening and cutting unit is generally like thecorresponding unit of United States Patent No. 2,721,669.

A support 52 for a tape reel 54 is carried on an extension frame 56which is rigid with the frame 50. The tape is guided over a guide roller58 and between the tape web feeding roller 44 and an idler roller 60.The idler roller 60 is carried on one arm of a three-armed lever 62,which lever is mounted for rocking movement on a stationary pin 64. Thesecond arm of the lever 62 carries a pinch cutting blade 66 which isoperable toward and from a stationary anvil roller 68.

The arrangement is such that with the third or long arm of the lever 62pulled downwardly by a tension coil spring 70, FIG. 4, the cutter blade66 is held in contact with the anvil roller 68 and the pressure roller60 is held away from the roller 44 and the tape web 72. In thiscondition of the parts there can be no feeding of the tape web eventhough the roller 44 may be in operation.

Upon energization of a solenoid winding 74, however, the lever 62 willbe swung clockwise to carry the blade 66 away from the anvil roller 68and to press the idler roller 60, through the tape web 72, against thetape web feeding roller 44.

The control means for the gate 73, the driving metor 28 and the lever 62are diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 4. A foot operated switch ortreadle 76 rests on the fioor and is connected to the unit through aflexible, two-wire conductive cable 78.

When operated from its normally open condition to a closed condition,the switch 76 serves to complete a circuit which may be traced fromconductor main 80 through a conductor 82, which includes a gate openingsolenoid winding 84, to the switch 76. From the switch 76 the circuit iscontinued through a conductor 86, a relay winding 88 and a conductor 90to a second conductor main 92.

The closing of the circuit just traced causes the winding 88 to beenergized and to pull the movable member of a normally open switch 94into closed position. Closing of the switch 94 causes a circuit to becompleted from conductor main 92 through conductor 90, winding 88,conductor 96, switch 94 and a conductor 98, which includes a manuallyoperable, normally closed switch 100, to one extended terminal 102 of atwo-position switch 104. The circuit is continued from the movablemember 106 of the switch 104 through a conductor 108 to the motor 28 andis thence completed to the conductor main 80 through a conductor 110.

It will be seen that the closing of the switch 76, therefore,establishes a holding circuit through switch 94 which sets the motor 28into operation, causing the conveyor belts 22 to be driven and therollers 44 and 46 of the tape unit to be driven, all at equal linearspeeds.

A first consequence of the closing of the switch 76 is the opening ofthe gate 73 in response to energization of the winding 84. This permitsthe first of the waiting boxes to move onto the conveyor belts 22 and toadvance somewhat more slowly than the rate of travel of the conveyorbelts 22 until the center of gravity of the carton has passed onto theconveyor belts 22. As soon as the leading end of the carton has passedthe gate 73, the carton will suifice to hold the gate 73 down, and theswitch 76 may be released. With the carton moving forward in unison withthe conveyor belts 22 it pulls away from the next following carton,leaving a gap which the gate 73 may enter as soon as the gate is clearedby the trailing end of the conveyor supported carton.

The conveyor supported carton engages and rocks forward an upstandingtape feeding and cutting controller arm 112. As soon as the controllerarm 112 starts to tilt forward, its tail portion rocks the movablemember 106 of the switch 104 about pivot 107 in a clockwise direction,as viewed in FIGURE 4, shifting it into engagement with an extendedcontact 114 of the switch 104 and then out of engagement with theoverlapping extended contact 102 of the switch.

The shifting of the switch member 106 out of engagement with contact102, drops the conductor 90, winding 88, switch 94 and conductor 98 outof circuit, thereby permitting the switch 94 to resume its normal opencondition. It substitutes in the circuit a conductor 116 which includesthe winding 74, so that the circuit through the motor 28 is maintainedat the same time that the solenoid winding 74 is energized. Aspreviously noted, energization of the winding 74 shifts the idler roller60 into tape web feeding position and also pulls back the knife blade 66to provide a passageway for the tape between the anvil roller 68 and theblade 66.

The advancing tape is moistened as it passes between the moisteningroller and an opposed spring pressed idler roller 118, and is furtherfed downward by them. The feeding of the tape is continued until thetrailing end of the carton has passed clear of the rather longcontroller arm 112.

When the carton clears the arm 112, the controller 112 springs upward,permitting the member 106 of the arm 104 to move downward to the normalposition in which it engages the extended contact 102, but stands out ofengagement with the overlapping extended contact 114. Since the switch94 will have been opened before this time, as previously pointed out,the contact 102 is dead, and no current is caused to flow through themotor 28 or through the solenoid winding 74.

The consequence is that the carton feeding conveyor belts 22 advanceonly a short distance further under the momentum of the operating parts,and the tape feeding and moistening roller 44 advance only a shortdistance further under the momentum of the operating parts.

The advancing of the tape web is instantaneously arrested by thewithdrawal of the idler roller 60 from tape pressing position. The tapeis simultaneously severed by the rocking downward of the long arm of thelever 62 to thrust the knife blade 66 against the anvil roller 68. Thesevered length of tape 69 will continue to travel downward so long asthe rollers 46 and 118 continue to rotate, and may or may not movecompletely clear of the rollers 46 and 118.

As the tape emerges from the rollers 46 and 118 it is fed into andthrough a curved holder 122, which consists of sets of upper Wirefingers 123 and lower wire fingers 124, with its moistened side disposedtoward the lower fingers 124. The severed tape length 69 depends fromthe holder, being lightly gripped between the upper and lower fingersand retained by them with or without the aid of the rollers 46 and 118.

The conveyor belts 22 come to rest with the carton in a convenientposition for taping at the operators station, and with the measured,moistened and severed length of tape hanging down conveniently near athand. The operator after folding in the leading and trailing flaps andthen the side flaps, seizes the tape and applies it in a conventionalmanner. He may, for example, apply the tape first to the substantiallyabutting side flaps along the longitudinal center seam, with the ends ofthe tape protruding substantially equally beyond the leading andtrailing ends of the carton. Thereafter he may draw the tape ends tautlydownward and press the respective ends smoothly against the leading andtrailing faces of the carton.

The disposal of the taped carton may be taken care of without attentionon the part of the operator and simply as an incident of the feeding inof the next carton to be taped. If, however, there is no carton waitingto be taped, the operator may, nevertheless, close the treadle switch 76for setting the motor 28 and the conveyor belts 22 into operation. Notape will be fed down because there will be no carton to depress thecontroller member 112. Neither will the motor 28 and the conveyor belts22 be later on brought automatically to rest as they are when a cartonis fed in. The operator can, however, bring the motor and the conveyorto rest by operating the switch button 116 to open momentarily thenormally closed switch 100. This de-energizes the winding 88, causingthe switch 94 to assume its normally open condition and so to leave themotor operating circuit through the switch 94 in a disabled condition.

The tape feeding unit has been described as including tape moisteningmeans on the assumption that moisture sensitive tape Will be used. Thetape moistening means includes a reservoir 126, the moistening roller 46and a barometric feed 128 for maintaining the water level in thereservoir 124. The barometric feed 128 includes a cup 130 having adepending hollow stem 132, an inverted water jar 134 of glass, a jarholding bracket 136 and a jar holding spring 138.

It is not essential, of course, that the tape employed the of themoisture sensitive variety. If the tape is either of the pressuresensitive or heat sensitive kind, the moistening means may be omitted,or may be rendered inactive by the removal of the moistening reservoir126, the roller 46 and the associated supporting structure.

It is not essential that the tape unit be driven from the same motor asthe conveyor belts .22, since it is possible to provide separate motorsand still to cause the tape when fed out to be fed at substantially theidentical rate at which the conveyor belts are advanced. A diagrammaticillustration of a modification of this kind is found in FIGURE 5.

The structure of FIGURE 5 is generally the same as that of FIGURES l to4. Corresponding reference characters have accordingly been applied tocorresponding parts with the subscript a added in each instance and thedescription will be confined to the characteristics and details in whichthe structure of FIGURE 5 differs from that of FIGURES 1 to 4. Partssuch as switches 76, 94 and 100 and winding 88, omitted for lack ofspace in FIGURE 5 are, nevertheless, included without change in thestructure of FIGURE 5.

Instead of connecting the motor 28a to drive the tape unit, a motor 118ais connected in parallel with the winding 74a through conductors 140 and142. The motor 118a is, therefore, started concurrently with theenergization of the winding 74a by a depression of the controller 112a,and is stopped when the controller 112a rises upon clearance of it bythe trailing end of the carton. The motor 118a is connected to drive theshaft 38a on which the tape feed roll 40a is made fast, and the shaft38a in turn through chain gearing 42a drives the other driven parts ofthe tape feeding and moistening unit.

Both illustrative embodiments have been described as feeding out,moistening and cutting a single strip of tape at each feeding of acarton past the controller 112, or 112a by the conveyor, and this wouldbe adequate in most situations. There may be occasions, however, whentwo identical tape lengths may be wanted for a single carton. In somesituations, for example, it may be desired to fold in and tape the flapsat the top of a loaded carton, then manually to invert the carton byrolling it forward while holding the bottom of the carton closed, andthen to tape the overturned bottom. Such a situation may be dealt withby anyone of several expedients for feeding out two moistened strips ofidentical length side by side.

One suitable arrangement would be to provide for the feeding out,moistening and cutting of a double width tape, with a slitter providedfor splitting the tape centrally a little ahead of the guide rod 58.

A second available expedient is to provide two side by side reels, withthe tape feeding, cutting and moistening means wide enough to act uponthe two strips simultaneously. In this case, the leading end of one ofthe Webs can be withdrawn from between the rolls 44 and 60 when a singlestrip is wanted for each carton.

A third available expedient is to provide two reels and two taper heads,With identical operating means, responsive to the controller 112 or11211, for operating the two taper heads identically. Again one of thetapes may be withdrawn from between rollers 44 and 60 of its taper headto render the taper head ineffective though operative. Alternatively anormally closed, two position '6 switch interposed in one of two lines116 or 11 6a may he opened. This will suppress energization of one ofthe solenoids 74 in the mechanism of FIGS. 1 to 4. In FIG. 5 it willsuppress the energization of one solenoid 74a but will leave the motor118 operative through the line 116a which goes to the other solenoid.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have beenillustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that changesmay be made therein and the invention embodied in other structures. Itis not, therefore, the intention to limit the patent to the specificconstruction illustrated, but to cover the invention broadly in whateverform its principles may be utilized.

We claim:

1. A tape serving mechanism comprising, in combination, a tape feedcontroller having a carton engageable portion of definite span andmounted for displacement by the carton from a normal inactive conditionto a tape feeding condition, means for relatively moving the controllerand a carton to be taped in the direction of the length of the cartonand in engagement with one another for a distance equal substantially tothe length of the carton plus the span of the carton engageable portionof the controller, tape feeding means responsive to the displacement ofthe controller by the carton to tape feeding condition, to feed out tapeat a speed which coincides substantially with the speed of relativemovement of the carton and the controller but rendered inactive by thereturn of the controller to the normal, inactive condition upondisengagement thereof by the carton, tape severing means operable inresponse to the return of the controller to normal condition, and meansfor terminating the relative movement of the carton and the controllerin response to the return of the controller .to normal condition.

2. A carton feeding and tape serving mechanism comprising, incombination, a carton feeding conveyor, a

gate for restraining incoming cartons near the introductory end of theconveyor, means including a manually operable member for opening thegate and setting the conveyor into operation, a tape feed controllerhaving a carton engageable portion of definite span and mounted fordisplacement by the carton from a normal, inactive condition to a tapefeeding condition, the construction and arrangement being such that thecontroller is held displaced to tape feeding condition while the cartonis being carried forward a distance equal substantially to the length ofthe carton plus the span of the carton engageable portion of thecontroller, tape feeding means responsive to such displacement of thecontroller by the carton to feed out tape at a speed which coincidessubstantially with the speed of the conveyor but rendered inactive bythe return of the controller to normal condition upon disengagementthereof by the carton and tape severing means operable in response tothe return of the controller to normal condition.

3. A carton feeding and tape serving mechanism as set forth in claim 2.which further includes means for causing termination of the operation ofthe conveyor in response to the return of the controller to normalcondition.

4. A carton feeding and tape serving mechanism comprising, incombination, cooperative stationary and moveable tape cutting members, acarton feeding conveyor, normally idle tape feeding rollers including atleast a first roller before the cutting point and a pair of mutuallyopposed rollers after the cutting point, a normally closed gate forrestraining incoming cartons near the introductory end of the conveyor,means including a manually operable member for opening the gate, settingthe conveyor into operation, and setting the tape feeding rollersineifectively into operation, a tape feeding controller having a cartonengageable portion of definite span, and mounted for displacement by thecarton from a normal, inactive condition to a tape feeding condition,the construction and arrangement being such that the controller is helddisplaced to tape feeding condition while the carton is being carriedforward a distance equal substantially to the length of the carton plusthe span of the carton engageable portion of the controller, a movablymounted idler roller opposed to, but normally spaced widely from, thefirst feeding roller, and movable in response to such displacement ofthe controller by the carton to press the tape against the first feedingroller and thereby cause the tape to be fed out at a speed whichcoincides substantially with the speed of the conveyor, but renderedinactive by the return of the controller to normal condition upondisengagement thereof by the carton, the movable tape severing memberbeing operable in response to the return of the controller to normalcondition, to effect severance of the tape, and means for causingtermination of the operation of the conveyor and of the tape feedingrollers in response to the return of the controller to normal position.

5. A carton feeding and tape serving mechanism comprising, incombination, a carton feeding conveyor, a driving motor for theconveyor, a gate for restraining incoming cartons near the introductoryend of the conveyor, means including a manually operable member foropening the gate and setting the conveyor driving motor into operation,a tape feed controller having a carton engageable portion of definitespan and mounted for displacement by the carton from a normal, inactivecondition to a tape feeding condition, the construction and arrangementbeing such that the controller is held displaced to tape feedingcondition while the carton is being carried forward a distance equalsubstantially to the length of the carton plus the span of the cartonengageable portion of the controller, tape feeding means, a drivingmotor therefor, said driving motor and tape feeding means beingresponsive to such displacement of the controller by the carton to feedout tape at a speed which coincides substantially with the speed of theconveyor, but rendered inactive by the return of the controller tonormal condition upon disengagement thereof by the carton, and tapesevering means operable in response to the return of the controller tonormal condition.

6. A carton feeding and tape serving mechanism comprising, incombination, a carton feeding conveyor, a driving motor for theconveyor, a gate for restraining incoming cartons near the introductoryend of the couveyor, means including a manually operable member foropening the gate and setting the conveyor driving motor into operation,a tape feed controller having a carton engageable portion of definitespan and mounted for displacement by the carton from a normal, inactivecondition to a tape feeding condition, the construction and arrangementbeing such that the controller is held displaced to tape feedingcondition while the carton is being carried forward a distance equalsubstantially to the length of the carton plus the span of the cartonengageable portion of the controller, tape feeding means, a drivingmotor therefor, said driving motor and tape feeding means beingresponsive to such displacement of the controller by the carton to feedout tape at a speed which coincides substantially with the speed of theconveyor, but rendered inactive by the return of the controller tonormal condition upon disengagement thereof by the carton, and tapesevering means operable in response to the return of the controller tonormal condition, the conveyor driving motor being also responsive tothe return of the controller to normal condition to discontinue drivingof the conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,171,097 Cummings Feb. 8, 1916 2,405,790 Krueger Aug. 13, 19462,841,305 Werner July 1, 1958

1. A TAPE SERVING MECHANISM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A TAPE FEEDCONTROLLER HAVING A CARTON ENGAGEABLE PORTION OF DEFINITE SPAN ANDMOUNTED FOR DISPLACEMENT BY THE CARTON FROM A NORMAL INACTIVE CONDITIONTO A TAPE FEEDING CONDITION, MEANS FOR RELATIVELY MOVING THE CONTROLLERAND A CARTON TO BE TAPED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE CARTONAND IN ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR A DISTANCE EQUAL SUBSTANTIALLY TOTHE LENGTH OF THE CARTON PLUS THE SPAN OF THE CARTON ENGAGEALBE PORTIONOF THE CONTROLLER, TAPE FEEDING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE DISPLACEMENT OFTHE CONTROLLER BY THE CARTON TO TAPE FEEDING CONDITION, TO FEED OUT TAPEAT A SPEED WHICH COINCIDES SUBSTANTIALLY WITH THE SPEED OF RELATIVEMOVEMENT OF THE CARTON AND THE CONTROLLER BUT RENDERED INACTIVE BY THERETURN OF THE CONTROLLER TO THE NORMAL, INACTIVE CONDITION UPONDISENGAGEMENT THEREOF BY THE CARTON, TAPE SEVERING MEANS OPERABLE INRESPONSE TO THE RETURN OF THE CONTROLLER TO NORMAL CONDITION, AND MEANSFOR TERMINATING THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE CARTON AND THE CONTROLLERIN RESPONSE TO THE RETURN OF THE CONTROLLER TO NORMAL CONDITION.